A-Z: General definitions: Salvation

Definition

In the Bible, salvation is seen as God's commitment to save or rescue his people from sin (and other dangers) and to establish his kingdom.

1. In the Old Testament, God intervenes to help the people of Israel, particularly when faced by enemies.

2. The doctrine of the Incarnation teaches that, in the person of Jesus Christ, God became a human being and willingly offered himself to die on the cross in order to save men and women from their sins. There were a variety of interpretations of the doctrine of the Atonement (i.e. the reconciliation of mankind to God through the death of Christ). Origen (c. 185-254) viewed Christ's death as a ransom paid to Satan who had acquired rights over man through the Fall; but this interpretation was later largely superceded by that of St Anselm (c 1033-1109) who taught that Christ died to take the punishment due to human sin, thus paying the debt owed to God and appeasing His righteous anger. According to the New Testament, the Crucifixion and burial of Jesus were followed three days later by the Resurrection, after which he met a number of his disciples and convinced them of his victory over sin and death. The account in Acts 1:1-11 of Christ's Ascension into Heaven includes an assertion there will be a Second coming when he will return to earth as Judge.

Related Topics

1In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,2until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.3He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.4And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me;5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.6So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?7He said to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.9And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.10And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,11and said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.13And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.14All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,16Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.17For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.18(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.19And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)20For it is written in the Book of Psalms, May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it; and Let another take his office.21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,22beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us - one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.23And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.24And they prayed and said, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.12Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.13And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)16Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.19And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.20For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.21Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.23And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.24And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,25That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.26And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament scriptures inherited from Judaism, together with the New Testament, drawn from writings produced from c.40-125CE, which describe the life of Jesus and the establishment of the Christian church.

The Bible describes God as the unique supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe.

Disobedience to the known will of God. According to Christian theology human beings have displayed a pre-disposition to sin since the Fall of Humankind.

A 'testament' is a covenant or binding agreement and is a term used in the Bible of God's relationship with his people). The sacred writings of Judaism (the Hebrew Bible). These also form the first part of the Christian Bible.

The Old Testament frequently refers to Israel as the Promised Land allocated to God's children. Prophecies refer to it as his chosen nation and the one out of which the Messiah would come.

Belief that, in the person of Jesus Christ, God became a human being.

Title (eventually used as name) given to Jesus, refering to an anointed person set apart for a special task such as a king.

Disobedience to the known will of God. According to Christian theology human beings have displayed a pre-disposition to sin since the Fall of Humankind.

1.To set right or compensate for a wrong done. 2.The bringing together (reconciling) of man and God through the offering of a sacrifice which acknowledges human wrongdoing.

The devil; the term 'Satan' actually means 'Enemy' and is often used to refer to the force of evil in the world.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Bible is known as the Fall of Humankind. Christians believe that humans from then on have had a a predispostion to disobey God.

A 'testament' is a covenant (binding agreement), a term used in the Bible of God's relationship with his people. The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible. Its name comes from the new covenant or relationship with God.

Execution by nailing or binding a person to a cross.

Literally, rising to life again. In the Bible it is specifically applied to Jesus Christ's coming to life after his crucifixion; and from thence, to the hope of all believers that after death, they will be raised to a new life in heaven.

The withdrawal of Jesus into heaven, 40 days after his resurrection.

In Christian theology the doctrine that Jesus Christ will return to the earth for a second time, but this time for the purposes of judgement and the bringing in of a new world.